Since 1994, a group of Black hot rodders, car buffs, and gear heads from St. Louis, Mo. and its surrounding area have been burning rubber down drag strips, putting on car shows, visiting schools and holding seminars on the sport of drag racing and hot rods in general.

The United Black Drag Racers Association is actively involved in the motorsport of drag racing and still reaching out to those who want to get involved as racers or as racing fans.

The founding of the UBDRA, however, began way before 1994, according to long-time member Loris Williams. She said in 1985 a group of Black hot rodders from St. Louis would brag about how fast their cars would go amongst each other.

“They would talk trash and brag about who’s van beat who,” Williams said. “They would show up on Sunday at the strip and place their bets on who would win.

“As time went on into the early 1990s, friends and families would show up at the strip by word of mouth and the races began to grow and spark interest.”

In 1989, Williams said the group began to have an annual Christmas party, which gave everyone a chance to talk shop. In 1994, the group began collecting donations and fees, and in 1994, the UBDRA, a non-profit organization, was born.

“We wanted to start an organization to promote and present drag racing and hot rodding in a positive light to members of the Black community,” Williams said. “We want to educate our community as well because when you look at the sport of drag racing in a historical sense, Black people are hardly mentioned or represented.”

Williams explained that Blacks have been involved with drag racing since the early 1960s. She mentioned Tim Woods and Fred Stone of the Stone Woods and Cook Racing Team and Malcolm Durham. She said the UBDRA wants to promote African Americans in the sport.

“We try to inform people about the NHRA racing school and how they can race anywhere,” she said. “We’re excluded from the sport in many ways by not knowing the insides of drag racing. This happens so often.

“We use drag racing as a form of giving back to the community.”

To get the Black community informed, the UBDRA puts on car shows and makes appearances at schools throughout the St. Louis area and parts of Illinois.

“When we go to the schools, some of the kids aren’t even aware of us or our history in drag racing,” Williams said. “When we were working with the youth at the local Job Corps, the kids didn’t even have a clue of our past or the history of what Blacks went through and endured in this country. We’re showing young people that they can do things with dignity.”

The UBDRA does more than putting on drag meets and making public appearances. It puts on fundraisers and makes donations to organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and others. Since 1994, the organization has donated over $120,000 to those and other non-profit organizations.

UBDRA also helps to get scholarships for youngsters who want to go to the college or to study to become an automotive service technician (mechanical and body repair) at Rankin Tech in St. Louis.

The biggest event the UBDRA has put on since 1994 is the popular Black Sunday Drag Meets at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. Hundreds of race buffs compete annually and it continues to grow to this day. The event has grown to add two other venues – in Byron, Ill. and at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind.

UBDRA also has grown beyond the borders of Missouri and Illinois. There’s now a Southeastern Wisconsin chapter with 25 active members who help to put on the Black Sunday event at Byron, Ill., near Rockford.

“We want to show the world that the UBDRA is here and we can compete with anyone,” Williams said.

For membership and information on the UBDRA, contact Loris Williams at (314) 575-4934 or Joyce Pickett at (314) 853-4476 or go its website www.ubdra.net.

UBDRA Honored

For more information contact:

Joe Zydlo, (618) 482-2495 Director of Public Relations Gateway International Raceway NHRA, Gateway to Honor U.B.D.R.A. (United Black Drag Racing Association To Be Presented Award For Their Charitable Community Efforts)

Madison, IL - Gateway International Raceway and the National Hot Rod Association announced today that they are presenting an award to the United Black Drag Racing Association (U.B.D.R.A.) this Sunday, June 27 prior to the start of the final elimination?s of the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals.

For the past 15 years the U.B.D.R.A. has run their annual ?Black Sunday  event at Gateway International?s Championship Drag Strip and have donated almost $100,000 of proceeds to various charities, including the United Negro College Fund, Dunbar Elementary School Fathers as Mentors Program, Special Olympics, GEAR-Up of St. Louis, and U City High School Mock Trial Team to name a few. The organization was officially established in 1994 as a way to expand this national event. Today the U.B.D.R.A. has over 30 board members and is a nationally recognized organization with chapters in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Louisiana. The 2004 ?Black Sunday  event will be held at Gateway September 17-19.

The U.B.D.R.A. was created to "preserve and promote the sport of drag racing in a positive manner for the membership and community.  The mission of the U.B.D.R.A. is to educate the community on safe driving, promote teamwork and leadership, and maintain a "supportive and united representation  of all ethnic groups in drag racing. The U.B.D.R.A. is a non-profit organization and does not discriminate against any person(s) based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, or impairment.

"The U.B.D.R.A. is a magical organization that has created a truly one-of-a-kind event,  said Gateway Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo. "To think that our racetrack and our community hosts the largest African-American motorsports event in the world is a tremendous honor. Both Gateway and the NHRA are privileged to recognize the U.B.D.R.A. for all of their charitable giving and promotion of our sport."

3-Day Passes for the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals on June 25-27 are available now for only $99. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-35-SPEED Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm, and Saturday from 10 am - 2 pm. You can also purchase tickets 24 hours a day at http://www.gatewayraceway.com.